Lock for toilet seat covers



March 13, 1962 J. P. HARDENB ROOK LOCK FOR TOILET SEAT COVERS Filed Dec. 16, 1960' JPHARD'A/BA 0K INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,024,472 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 3,024,472 LOCK FOR TOILET SEAT COVERS Joe P. Hardenbrook, 806 Poplar, Lamar, Mo. Filed Dec. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 76,197 2 Claims. (Cl. 4--253) This invention relates to toilet seat covers, and more particularly to a locking mechanism which may be readily mounted on a conventional toilet seat assembly for normally locking the cover in a closed position against the efforts of small children raising the cover to play in the water and drop articles such as toys or the like in the bowl.

An important object of the invention is to provide a lock of this character which may be readily operated to release the cover for movement to its open position by adults or larger children.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will be hereinafter described and the novel features thereof defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a toilet seat equipped with a seat cover lock, constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is -a fragmental side elevational view of a toilet seat cover lock, attached to a toilet seat, portions thereof being broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a toilet bowl is indicated generally by the reference character 5, the toilet bowl being provided with the usual seat portion 6 which is hingedly connected to the bowl, and normally closed by the closure or cover 7, as better shown by FIGURE 2 of the drawing.

The reference character 8 indicates a post which has a flat bottom which rests squarely on the upper surface of the toilet bowl at the rear of the bowl.

Extending vertically through the post 8 is a bore 9, which has its lower end cut away providing an opening 10.

Operating within the bore 9, is a rod 11 which has its lower end disposed laterally and extends through the opening at the base of the bore 9, where it contacts with the lower surface of the toilet seat 6.

The opening 10 is of such a dimension that the right angled lower end 12 of rod 11 will extend therethrough.

Mounted on the upper end of said rod 11, is a cam 13 which cam is formed with an operating lever 14 for effecting movement of the cam to raise and lower the rod as desired.

As shown by FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the upper end of the post 8 extends laterally at 15, overlying the cover 7, the laterally extended portion of the post 8 providing an arm for supporting the threaded rod 16 which is shown as extended through a bore formed in the free end of the arm 15, the rod 16 being supplied with an upper adjusting nut 17, and a lower adjusting nut 18, the lower nut being countersunk so that the lower surface thereof is flush with the lower surface of the arm 15, as clearly shown by FIGURE 2 of the drawing.

On the lower end of the rod 16, is a foot 19 which is preferably circular in formation and is designed to fit closely against the cover 7 when properly adjusted. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the adjustment of the foot 19 will permit the device to be used in conjunction with practically any type of toilet seat.

Should it be desired to raise the toilet seat, it is obvious that the cam 13 which normally contacts the upper surface of the post 8, will be swung upwardly, whereupon the right angled end 12 of the rod 11 will move downwardly out of contact with the seat 6, whereupon the post may be slid laterally and removed temporarily from the bowl.

When it is desired to replace the lock, it is only necessary to slide the post over the upper surface of the bowl 5, bringing the laterally extended arm 12 to a position under the hinge of the toilet seat, into contact with the lower surface of the toilet seat. The cam 13 is now moved to the position shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, whereupon the right angled end 12 of the rod 11 is moved into clamping relation with the toilet seat securing the lock in position.

It will be obvious that when the post has been positioned in a manner as described, the foot 19 will contact the upper surface of the cover 7, securely holding the cover in a closed position.

It is believed that in view of the foregoing detailed disclosure and drawing, that a further detailed description of the operation of the device is believed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A seat cover lock adapted for use with a toilet bowl, toilet seat, and seat cover, said lock embodying a post adapted for positioning on :a toilet bowl, an arm extending :laterally from the upper end of said post, adapted to overlie the seat cover, said post having a vertical bore extended therethrough, a vertically movable rod operated within said bore, the lower end of said rod extending laterally providing a clamp, adapted for engagement with the lower surface of said seat, means for moving said clamp adapted to move said clamp into clamping relation with said seat, and a vertically adjustable post mounted on said arm adapted for engagement with said seat cover, normally locking said cover closed.

2. A seat cover lock adapted for use with a toilet bowl, toilet seat, and seat cover, said lock embodying a post adapted to seat on the top of the seat, a horizontal arm extending laterally from the upper end of said post, a locking rod mounted for vertical sliding movement on said post, the lower end of said rod extending laterally providing a seat clamp adapted to engage under the toilet seat, a cam pivotally mounted on the upper end of said rod, engageable with the upper end of said post adapted to bias said clamp into engagement with said toilet seat securing said seat cover lock in position and a vertically adjustable foot mounted on the free end of said horizontal arm adapted to engage the seat cover, normally holding the cover closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

